Saudi Arabia’s artistic landscape is ever-evolving.
And NEOM’s Artists in Residence (AiR) program is at the forefront, blending heritage with contemporary expression. The three-month initiative invited four talented Saudi artists to explore the intersection of culture, environment, and innovation, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering creativity within its Vision 2030 framework.
Among the selected artists, Ahaad Alamoudi draws inspiration from Saudi heritage, questioning the balance between tradition and change. With Saudi Arabia designating 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts, she reflects on the evolution of artistic practices, seeking ways to preserve yet modernise cultural expressions. “The way that the residency was formatted really facilitated collaboration. It enabled us to learn about the different ways people are approaching similar topics. There were a lot of voices in one space, which allowed for different perspectives. It was a holistic overview of a lot of things that we were experiencing… and experiencing together at the same time. It was one of the best experiences I've had and it has really informed my practice. I'm very happy with the time that I had in NEOM,” Alamoudi says.
Ayman Zedani found artistic depth in NEOM’s diverse landscapes, describing the region as a convergence of mountains, deserts, and coastlines—a rarity within a single setting. “For me, it's really important to connect all of these things to my practice, the protagonist of which is the Arabian Peninsula. There are places like NEOM elsewhere, but it can be difficult to tell the separation between the different landscapes and climates. Within NEOM, it feels like all this exists in one place, so it was an important find. It's almost like I've been preparing myself to experience something like this, with everything happening in one area,” Zedan says. His work explores the legacy of Saudi Arabia’s north, particularly the ancient Nabatean civilisation, as he delves into historical symbols and environmental narratives.
For Abdulmohsen Al Bin Ali, NEOM’s rich biodiversity became the foundation of his artistic process. His fascination with birds and their symbolism in mythology reflects a connection between nature, folklore, and human experience, exploring how tradition weaves into contemporary perspectives on environmental storytelling. About his work, Al Bin Ali says, “My practice mainly is derived from the experience of nature through mythology, so the idea of how as humans we live in our environments and how we connect with biodiversity and landscapes through mythology. It's more like a spiritual connection to our land and examining our experience of nature through folklore, through fiction, through storytelling. For me, I was really interested in birds and their patterns. The number of birds that I saw in NEOM was quite spectacular. What was really interesting was that a lot of the birds in the region haven't developed this fear of humans because, for a long time, it was a very isolated spot. The birds there are quite approachable, while you know that birds in a city would fly away the minute they see you around the corner. I found that very, very endearing.”
The AiR program also welcomed Bilal Allaf, a dancer and spoken word artist dedicated to elevating Saudi contemporary dance. His vision extends beyond performance, aiming to build a homegrown dance community, nurture local talent, and create a platform for artistic expression that embraces both modern movement and Saudi heritage. The choreographer and dance school owner says, “Since 2021, I've been invited to lots of projects that that were initiated by the Ministry of Culture and that has informed me of the support to the art form and encouraged me to pursue it even further. Being invited to NEOM as a dancer among artists from different art forms was very encouraging. We're all artists, but the practice of the dancer is very different than the practice of the sculptor and painter. However, at the end of the day, the dancer always needs input from different types of artists, especially when it comes to producing larger scale artworks, or shows, where we often collaborate with lighting designers and set designers. These are all artists who come from the visual arts background.”
By supporting multidisciplinary artists, NEOM’s AiR program exemplifies the Kingdom’s commitment to merging innovation and tradition, helping creators refine their craft while drawing inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s landscapes and cultural roots. As Saudi’s artistic movement flourishes, programs like AiR signal a future where tradition fuels innovation, shaping a distinctive and globally recognised arts scene.
